Confession time: I got a book deal. For a novel. My own.
Background.
I never started this blog, nor did I become a literary agent, because I wanted to be a writer. When I started as an assistant at Curtis Brown in 2002 I had some vague notions that I might write a screenplay… or something… someday… maybe… but that was quickly consumed by the more-than-full-time job of being an assistant and trying to work my way up in the publishing world.
I started the blog because being a literary agent is not only my job, it’s a true passion, and I wanted to both help out the unpublished and try to differentiate myself from the scores of other agents out there. Not, let me say again, because I thought of myself as a writer or had any designs on being one.
Fast forward to October 2008. The publishing industry and broader economy was in total meltdown apocalyptic mode, the whole country was stressed out about the election, and I had this idea for a novel… what better time to write a novel, right???
So, over the next several months, over late nights and weekends, I wrote a middle grade science fiction novel called JACOB WONDERBAR AND THE COSMIC SPACE KAPOW, about three kids who trade a corndog for a spaceship, blast off into space, accidentally break the universe, and have to find their way back home.
(And yes, San Francisco residents: Jacob’s namesake is the completely delicious Philz coffee brew).
Whew! Finished it!
Then I had to find an agent. And no, I couldn’t represent myself.
I sent out my queries, got my share of rejections, stressed plenty, but found my way to the awesome Catherine Drayton at Inkwell, who, to my extreme delight, agreed to take it on. (Why not Curtis Brown? I wouldn’t have wanted it to be awkward for my coworkers when I devolve into an unrepentant diva.)
Then came the submission process, where I… also got my share of rejections.
But then. Then! The clouds parted, the light shone through, and Dial Books for Young Readers at Penguin agreed to publish it. JACOB WONDERBAR AND THE COSMIC SPACE KAPOW will come out in 2011.
Now. Let me try to preempt a few questions that will be on the lips of many an anonymous commenter:
Did you have an advantage being a literary agent?
Yes. Are you kidding me? Yes.
I have been eating, breathing, sleeping, inhaling, and ingesting books basically nonstop, 24/7, for seven years. It’s my day and night job. I’ve seen tens of thousands of query letters, and I (hopefully) know what makes a good one. I’ve been working with some of the most talented writers in the world and have had to think extremely hard about writing and plot and all the other elements that go into a book.
But before I’m held up as an example of all that is wrong with publishing these days, please consider the following:
This wasn’t actually the first novel I have written or tried to have published. Like many writers out there, the first novel I wrote (deservedly) crashed and burned. Couldn’t find an agent and justifiably so. Because it wasn’t good enough. Like many people, I had to experience the pain of giving up on it, putting it in the drawer, and battling a serious case of the “Am I crazies” when I decided to start another one.
So… if all it took to find a publisher was being a literary agent and having a blog: you would have been hearing me announce a deal for that novel.
Let me also just point out that whatever advantage I have as a publishing employee is completely open to everyone: you just have to find a job in publishing, toil away for seven years in the industry, steadily gain everyone’s confidence, and then write in your spare time.
Trust me, there are easier ways of getting a leg up.
But it’s not really a coincidence or a sign of inside dealing that there are so many agents and editors who write: they’ve already devoted their lives to books because they love them dearly. Of course some of them then decide to write themselves.
Are you giving up agenting?
Uh……………. No.
Let me elaborate: No. No no no no no no.
I’m first an agent. That’s my job. This novel is just a fun side project. My clients and prospective clients always come first. I made it a point of pride that my response times never, ever suffered as I was working on my own projects. Not for queries, not for partials, and especially not for my clients.
If anything, going through the publication process has made me a much more empathetic agent. I thought I would be totally cool throughout the process… I’ve seen this before! I know what it’s like! Yeah, not so much. I learned a huge amount and have (I hope) become a better agent for it.
Will this blog be changing into a vehicle for relentless, egotistical self-promotion over the next two years (god, I’m going to have to hear about Nathan’s freaking novel nonstop for TWO YEARS someone please just go ahead and kill me now)?
Absolutely!!!!!!!!
(Just kidding).
Anyway, hope this explains why I’ve been so sentimental on the blog lately. This has been quite a roller coaster of a process, and I’ve been feeling the ups and downs of the writing life very keenly over the last year.
Thanks so much for reading this blog and for all of your great comments. I really can’t even express just how much I’ve learned from all of you.
Congrats Nathan. Sounds like hard work finally reaping rewards. All the best with the journey from now to the book being in print 🙂
Congratulations! That is great news.
That's truly wonderful:-) I look forward to offering my congratulations in person at your workshop on Sunday.
Nathan, congratulations!
You really do get us writers, don't you? *smile*
A corndog for a spaceship. Hmmm. Don't know if I would have made that trade. I do like my dogs on a stick. With mustard. Is there any mustard on the spaceship?
Congratulations! I love hearing "the call" stories, and this was a great one. All that hard work has paid off for you and it doesn't get much better than that!
Oh, yeah. You must have sweated bullets on getting an agent. Gee, check with 10 and get signed up. Are you really that good or do you just have an "in" the rest of us don't enjoy?
Obviously, I'm posting Anonymous. You really haven't a clue at the pain that the rest of us endure.
Heartfelt CONGRATULATIONS to you, Nathan! (Yes, I'm a little late to join the party, but I don't have internet access until late at night.)
I've always thought you were a superb writer, and often wondered why you hadn't written anything. I hope the book is also written in you natural, witty way.
But seriously, are there space monkeys???
307 comments? What the heck do you do with 307 comments. Is there somebody who actually reads 307 comments?
In case you make it all the way down to the this comment, nice going on the book deal, Nate.
Next you'll be telling us you can whip up a Margerita pizza while surfing an impossible tube.
Or is that simply a bad analogy for what's just actually happened?
Congrats Nathan!
Enjoy the fruits of your labors and try to check in with us from time to time…
One more thing. I just wanted to let you know how inspiring it all is.
I'm a mother of two small children ages 3, and 18 months. During the day, I'm "Mommy" and housewife. I go to work when my husband comes home, and work until about 2:30 am. I've also thrown going back to college in there somewhere.
I've been working on my novel for a year now, and as time progresses, I find myself writing less and less, telling myself that I'm just too busy. But seeing you do this, ON TOP of everything else you do takes that excuse away for me. I would have been done a month ago if I stopped using excuses. So today, thanks to you, I picked up my pen and started writing that final chapter.
Thanks.
Congrats!
Thanks for writing what sounds like will be a funny book for boys! We need more!
Major congrats Nathan. It would be interesting to hear what YOUR agent thinks of you going through the process.
Plus, I bet there you could write an fascinating novel about being an agent with a blog. Just your spam notes would be great humor.
Congrats! I think we'd all appreciate it if you DID blog frequently about your book and its progress through publication. The best way for us to learn about all this is a first-hand example.
Big congrats, nathan, and best of look with the book!
Congratulations Nathan!
Can we see your query letter?
🙂
Ya see, people came to your blog because you're an agent, and you give great advice for writers. However, lots of writers have blogs and give writing advice, but they don't have the following you have. You have your following, first and foremost, because people want you to represent them. Now, after all this time (gaining a following and making connections that none of us would have equal access too as plain-old writers)…Bam! Lookie here…you got a pub. deal. Who wouldn't want to represent Nathan Bransford! Who wouldn't want to publish a book by someone who has as a built in following! You are not equal to other writers. People feel they need you (you know what I mean)so they flock to you…it's not because your a swell guy. There are lots of great people, great blogs, but…Okay, yea, I'm jealous–sour grapes, I know. What will be funny is how all your groupies will profess how they would have bought your book anyway.Tsk. Had you not wanted an advantage, you never would have brought it up to your readers because surely you have plenty of friends to congratulate you. Tsk. Tsk.
Congratulations!! This is huge!!
I actually remember the first week you started this blog. It was your voice that first drew me to the blog.
And, I like the title.
First up, a hearty congratulations! I was envious when I first read your post because I've been trying to get published so long it's laughable. But while I'm big on writing, I've never been big on querying. After a few tries, I've tended to give up or just kept on revising the stories for years…and years.
I remembered thinking while reading your prev. posts, 'He writes so well and is in the industry, how come he hasn't been published? It muust be near impossible to get a publishing deal.' Then, of course, it occured that you hadn't written anything due to possible lack of interest and time.
Well, now I'm feeling it is possible to break into the writing industry when we pay our writing dues.
Great news, and I'll be looking out for Jacob Wonderbar in 2011.
Word verification – moonisse.
A HUGE congrats!
When it's released I'll be buying it, awesome concept … my kids will love it!
Anon 5:01, I have to disagree. Not everyone who follows Nathan's blog does so because they want him to represent them. Many of us write books we know wouldn't be Nathan's cups of tea, but we still follow his blog.
Congratulations, Nathan! I can not imagine how you found the time to write a novel. You put the rest of us to shame – a very demanding full time job, almost daily blogger AND a novel. And I thought my schedule was brutal.
As for the insider stuff – it doesn't matter how many contacts you have if you don't write a great novel. So obviously you have.
Congratulations! I'm sooo buying your book for my kids. Also, your Client's winston churchill book for my husband. Also, your blog rocks, and I have no doubt that it will continue to do so. 🙂
Nathan, this is so wonderful. Congratulations! The concept sounds wonderful, and I can't wait to read it.
Also, as an agent, you understood your own contract! That must have been amusing. 🙂
Congratulations. That is so awesome! I am so happy for you. However, you have gone an put your foot in it. MG science fiction, huh? Well, when I eventually get my courage to the sticking place, I'm afraid you'll be getting a query for my mg fantasy. Sorry. As much as I love your blog and I get the feeling I would enjoy getting to work with you, I was going to pass you up because mg fantasy wasn't on your list. But now you've gone and written (and are getting published) a middle grade science fiction, and you can't dodge this particular bullet any longer.
With the distance I have to travel down the page to write this comment, it clearly shows you've got some following here! Not surprising really. Your blog is one of the few I make time to read. And this last one is so far the best…
Congratulations, Nathan!
Well, d**n, I want you to be an agent, one that wants my book and that only. Ha. That's the green envy part of me talking. The rational side says if I was an agent I'd read your work. Your writing has energy and you're funny. I bet your book is good. Congratulations!
Deborah Bundy
Congratulations, Nathan!
You must be on top of the world. I recently found your blog and enjoy it very much. As a writer (and reader) of MG fiction, I'm looking forward to reading your book.
Yikes…I am so late to this party. Congrats! It sounds like a really neat story.
Nathan, Congrats. Ilove it when good people win and you are both.
Wow, big congrats!! And good to know you like SF enough to write one yourself. Also that you can truly empathize with us. Hope you will consider sharing your successful query and synopsis with us.
That is ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS, Nathan. Hope you're going to celebrate!!!!!!!!!!
Gads I love to hear good news like this – especially from somebody so passionate and who has given back so much. Count me in line for a first run copy!
CONGRATULATIONS!
🙂
e
Congratulations! And LOL at "There are easier ways to get a leg up." ONLY seven years as an insider?! 😉
I write middle grade, too, and I very much look forward to meeting Jacob Wonderbar. Major kudos to you both.
Congratulations! How super cool.
I'm not sure why I thought an agent wouldn't need an agent. I guess that makes sense.
Very cool. Congrats!!!
@ Anon 5:01
We're not "groupies." We're crazies. CRAZIES. Remember that. And we have special Nathan devotions every Thursday evening at 7:00 pm, and each year we make a secret pilgrimage to kiss the pavement outside his office. Oops, wait, I wasn't supposed to tell you that: now the others are going to kill me unless I get to you first. 😉
Seriously, 99.9% of us would have been very disappointed if Nathan hadn't shared his good news. A blog is not about fame, it's about building a community. I'm going to get all sappy and personal here, and say that a lot of people, including me, have come to value Nathan as an online mentor and distant friend. Not just as an agent, not just as a writer, but as a person. I don't think that makes us "groupies." Rather, it means that we're intelligent enough to appreciate what we've found here. For your own part, if you go on looking for the worst construction to put on someone else's motivations, I guarantee that you will find it; but you are the only one who will be damaged by your cynicism in the long run.
Wordver: upsycl
When you're on the right side of a bicycle for a change.
That is amazing news, Nathan!! And what a great story for all writers out there. Very inspiring. By the way, I just happened to notice that you now have over 2,000 followers – and that's just the ones following you publicly and not through a reader or email. Did you know that? Of course you did, right?
Congratulations again!
What an accomplishment! Even though as an agent you probably work the equivalent of two and a half full-time jobs, you still found the time to write an agent-worthy, publishable book. Connections count for something, but those connections don't get books published (most of the time), they just get your foot in the door. Only your writing can keep you from getting the door slammed on that foot.
Kinda takes all our excuses away, doesn't it?
I'll join the 34,000 other people who are happy for you.
Hmmmm. Work full time as an agent, reads blogs, responds to comments, AND you wrote a novel.
Congrats!
Congratulations! This sounds like such a fun book. It (almost) makes me wish I were back in the classroom so I could share it with my students, especially the boys.
😉
Um, wait…. Oh, yeah…. Primal type scream coming up here, protect your ears.
WE HAVE TO WAIT 18 WHOLE MONTHS TO READ THIS??????????????????!!! I GET WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS IF NATHAN DOESN'T BLOG FOR A WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok, so that sounded sort of like a groupie. But 2011? Come on! 🙂
Congrats Nathan!!
This kind of news draws out even the stealth lurkers.
I always thought you should try your hand at writing a book or two…you do have a special way of putting things in words.
Thanks for sharing with us…cheer cheer cheers.
(I feel like I am cheering at the Olympics – very exhilarating)
Nathan that is wonderful. I'm really happy for you. Thank you for sharing everything you do. And it really helps me look further into getting farther into writing myself.
Thanks so much
thats awesome dude, congratulations. it might be answered in here, but i am going to ask anyway, why cant you represent yourself?
Anon 5:01, there are other agents who have blogs, but none have the following that Nathan has. He's worked damn hard for this following, and he deserves it. I've seen him skillfully navigate some very difficult times on this blog; it has not always been a walk in the park. People are drawn here because of who Nathan is as an agent, not because he is just an agent.
As for the contact thing – what? Is an agent supposed to refrain from publishing their book so they aren't accused of unfairness? That seems just silly to me.
I know that celebrating someone else's success can be difficult at times – for all of us – we're human. But please don't denigrate his accomplishment – either in creating an amazing blog, or writing a book that is about to become – a book!!! A book! How exciting, Nathan! You wrote a book! 🙂
Well done, Nathan!
Then come book signings etc.! Do you have longer days than the rest of us?
Congrats!! Very exciting news — so happy for you!
Congratulations! Your blog demonstrates your flair for writing. It was only a matter of time.
Nathan, I'm so pleased to read your good news. The book sounds great. Congrats on finding representation (with someone you didn't you didn't know) and the book deal. I'm so pumped about it now I have to put my iPhone down and pick up my laptop and get to work.
Cass